Showcase: Denver Urban Homesteading
Today’s post comes from Spencer Essey, a food activist blogger and publisher of Food State.
As the frost of winter begins to thaw and our minds turn to the outdoors and our lawns and gardens, so do our palates. For those of us out there who aren’t huge fans of root vegetables, the winter can be a time of getting away from the local and healthy mantras we might subscribe to in the spring and summer months when fresh local produce abounds all around us.
And of course the best place to get all these fresh wonderful foods is from the farmers themselves, or at least their representatives at your local farmers market.
While it may still be too early for most farmers markets to get up and running in your communities, you don’t have to let your palate or your plate suffer any longer, because at least here in Denver, there is one farmers market that doesn’t let those pesky seasons determine their hours; Denver Urban Homesteading.
This dog is upset he couldn't go inside and get some raw cheese.
Located on the corner of 2ndand Santa Fe, Denver Urban Homesteading resides in an old commercial-industrial building which enables them to stay open year round, catering to the farmers and ranchers who also continue to produce year round.
From producers like Leffler Family Farms and their bounty of radishes, turnips and carrots, to Windsor Dairy who raise Swiss and Heritage Breed cattle which are capable of weathering Colorado’s harsh winters, Denver Urban Homesteading is here for us lucky Denver residents year round. I’d be remiss, however, to not mention the regulars like Rob from Mini Moos and Kids Too who brings in the freshest goat milk you can possibly buy on weekends, or the folks at Callicrate Beef bringing in some of the finest cuts around.
Anthony Zimora of Leffler Family Farms (he married in) located in Eaton, CO shows off his extensive offerings of turnips, radishes and carrots.
More than just a market however, DUH also offers classes on just about anything you could ever want to live a greener more sustainable lifestyle, with offerings that range from the basics of a vegetable garden to raising angora goats for fiber, the good folks at DUH have built a truly extensive network of people who want to share their knowledge with you. Check out there events calender to see if something piques your interest and see some photos of some adorable angora goats.
Want to raise chickens for eggs? Goats for milk? How about bees for your own allergy alleviating honey? Then check out what they have to offer and give them a visit. Anyone interested in living a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle is sure to find something that interests them.
These are rainbow radishes from Laffler Family Farms ... delicious!
The market is open Thursday and Friday from 3 to 7 pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm but for the true experience go on Saturday when all the farmers, chicken swappers, goat keepers and apiarists are there in person just chomping at the bit to share and enjoy with you.
Live well, eat well, and take a trip to Denver Urban Homesteading and be thankful we don’t have to buy our vegetables like this. It might just awaken something in you that you never knew was there.
read moreDenver Chicken Coop Tour
“First, you have a garden. Then, you have chickens,” says one of the coop owners. And it makes sense. When your soil isn’t hosting vegetables, chickens do work to restore nutrients to the dirt with their endless supply of crap.
This Coop had access to another coop inside the garage. Snazzy.
Too good of a pic to NOT use.
Chickens are great for working soil
We visited coops that were built and maintained by people from all walks of life. One was located out near the train tracks. Others were built by a couple who lived in a historic Denver mansion. Is it just crazy hippie folk that keep coops? I suppose not. Or, maybe, there’s a bit of hippie in all of us?
The Ritz of coops we saw that day
I dig that idea.
